Cork

Bordered by four other counties – Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford – in the province of Munster, Cork is Ireland’s largest county by area, with a coastline that extends to an incredible 680 miles. The seaport town of Cobh in Cork Harbour was once the main embarkation point for many Irish emigrants as they set off to find a new life in North America or Australia.

More than thirty County Cork clubs are affiliated to the GUI through its Munster branch and the most senior club, Cork, dates back to the 1880s, to a time when there were fewer than a dozen clubs in all of Ireland. The club has hosted the National Finals week twice, the last time in 1988 and its gents teams have won four of the five major Irish trophies – ironically, the only major piece of silverware that has eluded Cork is the Jimmy Bruen Shield, inaugurated in 1978 and named after one of the club’s finest players and administrators.

The top ranked course in the county is Old Head and it’s a GB & I Top 100 ranked course that will get the golfing juices flowing like hardly any other. For the sheer excitement and visual drama of its location, there are not many courses in the world (never mind Ireland) that can match it. Truly, it’s a must-play venue for any serious golfer.

Old HeadDescription: Laid out on a narrow headland, jutting out for two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, Old Head Golf Links has to be one of the world’s most exhilarating golf courses...Written by:Top100 Ave. RatingRating:5.4210526315789
out of 6

CorkDescription: Cork Golf Club is one of the most attractive courses in Ireland. It's an Alister MacKenzie gem that's delightfully situated on a tiny peninsula called Little Island...Written by:Top100 Ave. RatingRating:5
out of 6

Fota Island (Deerpark)Description: The Deerpark course at Fota Island has played host to three Irish Open Amateur Championships and the Irish PGA Championship, impressive for a track which only opened for play in 1993.Written by:Top100 Ave. RatingRating:4.5
out of 6

The 6,790-yard golf course at the Castlemartyr Resort forms the main recreational option at a 5-star County Cork facility that also offers more sedate recreational facilities like archery and clay pigeon shooting.

CastlemartyrDescription: The 6,790-yard golf course at the Castlemartyr Resort forms the main recreational option at a 5-star County Cork facility that also offers more sedate recreational facilities like archery and clay pigeon shooting.Written by:Top100 Ave. RatingRating:4
out of 6

Lee ValleyDescription: Lee Valley Golf & Country Club was designed by Irish golfing legend Christy O'Connor Jnr and he, along with Fred Couples, opened the course for play in 1993.Written by:Top100 Ave. RatingRating:4.3333333333333
out of 6

Muskerry

9th

Alister MacKenzie hallmarked 9 holes at the centurion Muskerry Golf Club when the Dr. extended the layout to 18 holes in 1924. Unusually, Muskerry has 23 holes on the property allowing various playing combinations.